Tech Telecom Roundup: Verizon Wireless Data, AT&T Caps, iPhone Slows, More

(MoneyWatch)  Verizon says data pay as you go should go, increases DSL bandwidth -- According to some documents that sneaked out of the company, Verizon Wirelesswill soon require any PDA or smartphone to have a data plan of at least $29.99 a month or more. Some programs like pay-as-you-go, 1X block, and the 10MB data plan will no longer be available. Then at some point in 2009, all mobile Web 2.0 devices will also require data plans. In the meantime, Verizontries to hold off cable providers by bumping DSL to 7Mbps (that is, in those areas where it actually can do 7Mbps). [Source: Engadget, Ars Technica]

AT&T jumps on bandwidth caps bandwagon-- No news that some telecom companies are trying to put a cap on the bandwidth that users get. AT&T is going to test the concept as well, in Reno, Nevada. At least these people will get an online meter to know whether they're close to the limit or not. [Source: BNET Industry Technology Blog, Ars Technica]

iPhone vagaries -- FBR Capital Markets expects Appleto significantly cut back on fourth quarter iPhone production, possibly more than 40 percent less than the third quarter. This could be a sign that demand for the product is tapering off, particularly as Apple has been eyeing international roll-outs, and you'd think that they'd need more phones, not fewer. Good thing the company has been socking away the cash while it could. We also get another facet of the IBM Papermaster goes to Apple story, as he is supposed to replace Tony Fadell, who supposedly came up with the idea of the iPhone in the first place and led its development. [Source: Reuters, BNET Industry Technology Blog, Silicon Alley Insider]

FCC chair gives up on changing phone fees -- FCC chair Kevin Martin, who has seen his share of controversy in his time at the organization, gave up on a plan to change how telephone companies paid each other for connecting calls. Apparently he couldn't get buy-off from the other commissioners. Maybe it was that pesky issue about it potentially costing consumers an extra $1.50 a month in new fees. Also heading back into the "further review" wasteland is an overhaul of a $7 billion federal program for subsidizing broadband deployment into rural areas. [Source: Washington Post]